Ballard Nature Center, Illinois III

For the third summer in a row, I took the kids to the Ballard Nature Center in Effingham and made them pose behind the trail sign. Just like last year. And the year before that.

And just like the years before the Midwest sun was super bright and they had a hard time looking towards the camera.

Once, daughter and I took Yoyo there in the rain. He very quickly understood the "frog" game: walk as quietly as you can towards the pond. The second you take that last step (or jump in daughter's case) hundreds of little frogs will jump from their hiding place into the pond. Fascinating!